Flush valve



April 14, 1931. A, H, wn-T 1,800,581

FLUSH VALVE Filed March 26, 1927 Patented Apr. 14, 1931 TTS PATENT @FICE AGATHO H. WITT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'I'O PEERLESS VALVE MANUFAC- TURING- COMPANY, OF CHICGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION GF ILLINOIS FLUSH VALVE Application led March 26, 1927. Serial No. 178,558.

This invention relates to flush valves and more particularly to flush valves such as are used'with water closets and the like for producing a flush of water through the closet bowl.

1While I shall describe the invention in connection with a particular valve of this sort, it is to be understood that the particular embodiment of the invention which I have shown is more in the way of illustration and that the invention maybe employed or embodied wherever desired or suitable.

Valves of this sort are characterized by a lagging or slow closing action'and it is desirable that this lag or the speed of closing or length of flush be adapted for regulation to meet the different conditions and diii'erent preferences in operation.

It is also desirable to secure a tight sealing or closing of the valve. In this connection it is desirable to minimize or eliminate the effect of wear and the lodgment of foreign particles between the valve and its seat upon proper and tight closing of the valve and a proper guiding of the valve to its seat is also advantageous.

The object of the present invention is the provision of a generally improved and simplified valve structure of this sort that may be economically and expeditiously produced and more specifically, the invention provides improved means for regulating the length of flush or period of closing of the valve, also, an improved valve and valve seat and improved means for guiding the valve properly to its seat under all conditions.

The regulating means is adapted for conveniently and expeditiously regulating the period of closing or length of flush without shutting oft1 the water supply and without taking the entire valve apart or requiring access to the inside thereo y' The improved valve, valve seat and means for guiding the valve to its seat provide a tight closing valve in which leakage is reduced and they are economical in material as well as economical to manufacture, linish and assemble.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: v

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through an embodiment ot the invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on thevline 2-2 of Fig. 1;

141g. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 8 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. lis a transverse section taken on the line 4-4 o1c Fig. 1;

Fig, 5 is a side elevational view of the main valve member; and

Fig. G is a fragmentary section through the valve casing similar to Fig. l with the valve member removed to show the seat for the main valve member and the means for guiding the valve member toits seat.

Referring to the drawing the particular valve shown has a casing 5 provided with a lateral inlet pipe connection G and an axial outlet pipe connection 7. The particular relative disposition ot these connections may, of course, be varied within the scope of the present invention. The inlet connection 6 is, 'for example, adapted for connection with the water supply pipe and the outlet connection with the pipe which leads into and flushes the closet bowl, where that is the use to which the valve is placed.

Internally and between the inlet connection 6 and outlet connection 7 the valve cas- 5 has an annular flange 8 which with the valve 9, when closed, divides the interior ot the casing 5 into an inlet chamber 10 and an outlet or discharge chamber 12. The flange 8 defines the port 13 which is controlled by the valve 9.

The valve 9 constitutes the main controlling valve member and it comprises the main barrel or body part lll flanged at its upper end at 15 and at its lower end at 16. Between its flanged ends the part 111 is reduced to provide an annular chamber 18 between it and the interior of the casing 5 when the valve is in place therein. Threaded at 20 upon the upper end `of the part 14 is an annular cap member 21 and clamped between the part 111 and the cap member 21 a sealing element 22 of leather or other suitable material with its outer margin cupped downwardly and cooperable with the interior of the casing 5 to provide a tight joint between the upper end ofthe valve-member and the interiorof the focasing. vThe cap 21 is open centrally at 23,

Vplacingthe interior 'of the casing-'above-thel valve'member 9 in opencommunioation with the interior of the barrel 14C of the valve inem-v ber atalltimes'. V-

Y V 1 The lower end. ofthe body partrla is recessed at 25 to receive an annular seating .ring 26l which is preferably formed of a suitable yiel'dable seating material'.Y The seating ring 264 is clamped' in the recess 25 by a member 30 having a flange 32 which cooperates ,with

Y the packing ring Q6 vand between which'and l ythe opposed surface 'ofthe member,- 11i`V the f packing ring 26 is clamped. The member 80 has threaded engagement? at 84 with the main body'mem'ber Ltcf the valvefand Athis member.'l 3() is hollow tot'formayrelief' port i adapted for placing theyinlet` chamber 10 in communication with the dischargeV lchamber The" relief valve;v operates vin the port Y3,5 and it comprises an axial generally 'cylindrical ste1n38, headedjatfl() and provided with Yan'upwardly 'extending axial threaded stem ,42; rllhe'bottom-1of the'lheaded portion 4:0 may bel tapered into the stem as shown to prevent interference with closing of they relief'Y valve VandiV a yielding seating ring of suitable yieldable material y is clampedy upon the stem v lQ'and down upon. .'therheaded portion l0 by a suitablenut 'and cellar zlrthreaded upon the stem 42. Y. v

4 fThe'seating' ring tseats upon'the upper endvof `the member Owhichv is preferably tapered, as shown, to; reduce the seating area and minimize or .eliminate the effect of Awear andtheeffect of the lodgment of foreign particles between the valve and its seat.

The stem 38 has a flange 48 and a coiled .spring 5()V interposedibetween this flangel and the member 30 normally urges the relief valve toitsseat. v Y *Y Y Y rlhe barrel or body `.14C of the main valve has a lateral port S2-which is preferably restrict'- ed' in size and which lmay beicoveredV with a f screen 58. The port {S2-places the-interiorof the valve body 14; in communication with the' i inlet connection; f- 1 K Surrounding the main'valve port 13von the yupper ksurface yof the flange' 8 is an annular lipg56i which :is-preferably relatively narrow. .This `lip cooperates with :theseating ringr26 andA formsthefmain valve seat. Its-'relativer ly thin-orf narrow ,formation ldecreases the 4 Zvseatingarea' Vso that Athe eHect-lof wearis'dey creased. and4 thefp'ossibility and effect of the Y, v l'odginent of foreign particles" between it and 'fthe seatingxring'isalso decreased,l the di`l lameter and widtli'of'thel annular seat 56, being preferably such thatzit' fits annularly be 'tween'theperiphery of the. flange `32and the Vdepending annular Y flange l58;surrounding the recess25,` Y Y v r Y r'vlhemain valve'9 issguided'to and fromits the interior of the valve casing.

valve seat. 1 i

seat by raised guides or high spots -60 formedV on the interior of the Casin/g5 above thev flange or partition 8. These guides or high entially about the interior of the casing at the lower ends of these longitudinal guides. This continuity at thellower ends ofthe guides 60 forms, in effect,l a counterborepor- `tion 100 intowhich the llower end 16 (Fig ure V5) vofthe'valveis telescopically guided toits seatby4 the guides 60 with asliding nt between vthe valveend 16 and the kcounterbore portion. As-apparent from Figure 6the top; ofthe counterbore'portionv'lOO terminatesat about the vbottomv of the interior ofV the in- V:let 6soithat as the lower end'16 vof the valve lenters thiscounterbore portion 100 it closes offr entry of foreign material in suspension inthe latter-to prevent same from accumulating beneath the valve. rlhis prevents accumulations of matter'of this sort between thevalve andthe valve seatat thev closureand atl the same time the sliding fitof the valve end 16 inthe counterboreportion 100rmay passl sufcientwater to flush the spacebetween the seat andthe bottom softhefvalve as'th'e valve moves ytoits seat 56 lafter enter-l ing` theq-icounterboreportion 100;.1 At the samefti'me'T this construction may. provide afterllof the closet; bowl as it cuts off full lflow of Watel, allowingpartial flow just pre- *ceding full closure ofthe. valve. yThe upper ends of the guides 60 preferably extend up sufliciently tojreceive andi cooperate with the lower` flanged end 16 of the-valve,body throughout lits range ofjmovement.V With lsuch an extensionv fof these guides the valve is guided towardits seat beforethe fiangefSQ 'reaches the portl 13j andbefore the seating ring 26 comes intocooperation With thev main The. raisedf guides Ofpreferably integral7 asshown but itisaiof cou-rse, 'robe-un-l derstood that theyzmay bernadeup 'separate- -lyfrom thegycasing and'suitably-fastened 'thereinr`- l I .Y f The'upperfopen end of the casing'lmay Vbe closed r1a-'closurejor.-capj; nut 63;r` The joint between thefmember i63 and the yupper end of 'the `casing -mayfbe gasketedat 64 and thefmember. 63; may havea'fh'exagonal ,or

,other suitably finished head 165 for; engagement by-a'wrench or other: suitable tool@Vl upwardly extending generally centrally f disposed Varin 69gwithits; other armbifurcated at 7 0 to provide-:two sides/Z 'lfheintegral Pivotedi1 in the outlet chamber 12 of the l "casing-5 is abellcranlr-'levera68 having an depending stem 7 8 at the lower end of the stem 38 is offset laterally to one side of the flange i8 so that it will extend down for cooperation at its lower end with either` of the sides 72 without interfering with the Generally centrally disposed. operating plunger stem 74. The upper surfaces oli the sides of the arm 72, 72 which cooperate with the lower end ot' the stem 73 are preferably corrugated or roughened as shown at 75 to provent relative slippage between them and the stem 78. The two arms 72 of the bell crank lever provide a balanced lever and disposes one arm on each side of the stem 7d so that only one stem 7 3 is required and this stein will engage one of the arm sides 72 regardless of which side the stem 7 8 passes the stem 74. The valve may, herefore, be assembled with the stem 7 8 on either side of the stem 74 and so long as it passes the stem 74 it will engage one or the other ot the arms 72.

The bell crank lever 68 has a hub portion 76 and a pin 77 journaled at its ends in the easing 5 entends through this hub portion 76 and pivotally mounts the lever 68 within the casing. The hub 7 6 preferably Fits between integral shoulders 78 within the casing and one end ot the opening for the pin 7 6 opens externally and is countersunk at 79. rihis opening permits convenient insertion and removal ot the pin 77 and a plug membeiI threaded in the countersunk outer end closes the same. A washer 81 may be provided upon the pin 77 between the casing 5 and the plug and the plug may have diametrically opposite recesses 82 for engagement by a tool for removing and replacing the plug.

The stem 7 4: extends out laterally through an opening 83 and terminates at its outer end in a head 84. Slidable upon the stem 7 4 between its ends is a collar and a spring 8G interposed between this collar and the head 84 seats and compresses the packing 86 which is placed about the stem 7 4 between the collar 85 and the adjacent wall of the casing 5.

The manipulative means for operating the valve is shown as comprising a handle 87 having a head 88 at its inner end. The opposed faces of the heads 84 and 88 are preferably rounded or convex slightly as shown.

rllhe head 88 is swiveled in a socket sleeve 90 threaded at 91 upon the tubular casing extension 92. The outer end ot' the sleeve 90 is flanged at 93 and the connecting neck 9e between the head 88 and handle 87 passes freely through the opening 96 so that the handle 87 is free to be swung out of alignment with the stem 7 4l in any direction.

interposed between the heads 84 and 88 and housed within the sleeve are one or preterably a plurality of separate spacers through which the thrust of the head 88 in swinging the handle 87 out of alignment with the stem 74, is transmitted to the stein 74. These spacers 95 are preferably in the form et circular discs although this may, of course, be varied and these spacers are preferably of diierent thicknesses.

ln operation the thrust of the stem 74 swings the bell crank lever G8 in a counterclockwise direction, one side of the bifurcated arm 72 engaging the stem 73 and lifting the relief valve, whereupon the water Jfrom the connection 6 enters the outlet chamber 12 and equalizes the pressure upon opposite sides of the main valve so that as the stem 38 continues to be lifted by bell crank 68 it operates through spring 50 to lift the main valve 9 with the assistance of incoming water or fluid, and roduces a flush ot water through the outlet Upon releasing the handle 87 it is returned by the spring 86 into position in alignment with the stem 7 4 as shown, the reliei' valve is closed and the main valve is seated.

The open period of the main valve and thereby the duration of the flush through the outlet 7 is dependent upon the lift of the main valve and by removing any one or combination of the spacers 95 or adding one or any combination of such spacers, this lift, and thereby the duration of the flush, may be adj usted or regulated to meet any conditions or preferences. By making the spacers ot dill'erent thicknesses the separate removal of diierent spacers will produce different amounts of regulation and it is to be understood that any number or combination of spacers of this sort may be employed. Three spacers of different thicknesses are shown but this may vary and the spacers may, il desired, be of the same thickness. They adjust the normal position of the inner end of the stem 74 and thereby the clearance indicated at 98 in Fig. l between the bell crank rm 72 and the lower end of the stem 78. This adjusts or regulates the amount of lift of the main valve for a given thrust of the stem 7 4E.

To remove from or add to the spacers all that is necessary is to remove the socket sleeve 9() and the period of flush may thereby be regulated as small or large amount as desired and to more than two different periods, all simply and conveniently and without shutting olf the water supply to the valve as well as without taking the entire valve apart or requiring access to the inside thereof.

The false bottom or lower end or the cap 63 gives the valve a relatively large appearance and at the same time provides for threaded engagement with the upper end of the casing 5.

l. In combination, a. valve, manipulative means therefor, means for transmitting the manipulation to the valve and means interposed between the manipulative means and said last means for adjusting the action of the valve, said adjusting means comprising a 4o if means swiveled in said sleeve andV having a i andsaid transmitting meansand said manipulativey means having wipingjcontact With and movement across thesiirface of said adjusting means. Y n Y, j Y Y -2.1In combination, a' valve, manipulative meansl` therefor, means f orltransmitting ,the

-manipulation tothe valve-and means comprisingafplurality of separate spacermemloersadaptedl to vbe;introduced and removed from,`betvveen the manipulative Vmeans and- Vsaid last means-for adjusting the vaction of the fvalve, said-:adjusting y,means Ybeing vfreeofrboth said'manipulative and transmitting means andsaidmanipulative means having wiping contact with and movement across L kthe surface ofsaid adjusting means.

combination, a valve, manipulative im'eans therefor, means for transmitting the manipulation to the valve, andmeans interpo' s ,ed between. 1Vthe manipulative means and j said last means foradjusting the action of V,the valve, said-last means -Vcomprising a plu-I jrality. of Y disc-like .members of diiferent athicknessesand adapted for separate intro-V Y ductionsy and removal, said Vadjusting discvlike members being free of-both saidmanipu- ".lative andsaid transmitting means andsaid manipulativemeans having a lrounded head having wiping-contact withand movement across the surface ofthe adjacent adjusting disc-like) members. Y 1

In combination, a. valve casing, a valve therein, a push stem entering thel casingv and adapted for', openingl said valve,A said push stemhaving an extending portion, a socket sleevefitting overthe extending portion of Vsaid-stem and attached to said casing, the

outerend ofthe extending Vportion of saidV stemv havingV a rounded head, manipulative rounded head atits inner end, and a plul-rality-"of separate Vspacers interposed be- U'tv'veen the rounded lhead on saidV manipulative i'neansand the 'rounded head on saidextending stem portion and housed'within the i socket sleeve for imparting lthe manipulation to the stem and adjustingthe action ofthe valve, said adjusting spacers'rheingfreeY ofV both `the said manipulative and said transmittingkmeansand'the'rounded vhead of said r :manipulative means having wiping contact .ofthe adjacent spacer. i ,y Y n Y 6. In combinatioma valve `casing, a valve therein, a push stem'entering the casing and said-'packing means, al second "head1 atV the inner-end of themanipulative means and a plurality of separate spacersiinterposed between said first andv second heads and housed within'the socket sleeve for imparting the manipulation to the'stem and adjusting the action ofthe valve, said spacersbeing free of `both said manipulative means andsaid pushstem andthe head at theuinner end of the manipulative VVmeans having wiping contact with and movementaoros's the surface posed between said; surfaces ,for imparting,

the manipulation to the stem and adjusting vthe action of the valve,; rsaid'adjusting spacers being free Vof both Vthe 'manipulative ,means and said push stemY and the convex surface of. the `head A.on the"l manipulative means having wiping contact with and movementacross the surface of thel adjacent adjusting spacer. A

`7111i a valve oftheclassvdescribed,the

combination of a valvecasingysaid casing having aniinlet, a seatwithin saidoasing, a valvemember movablejmto and out of engagement with said seat,'a counterbore extending` between theinlet and the valveseat, said valve memberhaving sliding fit with ysaid counterbore and'rsaid counterboreguid? ing said valve to its seat andspaced guides ahead. of said counterbore for-guiding the valve to .said vcounterbore and permitting full flow of water, the sliding fit ofsaid valve member withjsaid' oounterbore reducing the Vwater flow upon entry. of the valve into the counterbore. 4

-In witness whereof,,--Ii'hereunto'rset of March, 1927,.

handthisQQday .I ,v i Y 'Y AGATHO WirtVV lwith and movement acrossthe surface ofthe i f so ; adjacent adjusting spacer.r

c 5. In' combinatiom -avalve/casing, f awvalve vtherein, .apush stem enteringthe casing `latterly, and adapted forjactuating said valve,

' said push stem having an extending portion, .a' 'so cket sleeve fitting' over the extending portionY of .said i stem c, and attached Uto said .v-cafs'ing, 5 manipulative Vmeans lswiveleifl in said c sleeve, a `first jhead'at the outerend ofthe extending 'stem portion, means packing'the ,entry of said stemQinto theA casing, a coiled Spring interposedfbetweea Said, head. 'and 

